Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category

Chicago, IL (BlackNews.com) — A play chronicling the untold story of women and girls in the 1967 Detroit rebellion is making its way to Chicago for special performances this month.

AFTER/LIFE: In Honor of the City Rising from the Ashes debuted in Detroit last year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the rebellion “from the perspective of the thousands of overlooked women and girls who rose up to burn their city down.” It will run June 15-17, 2018, as part of Perform Midwest at Links Hall, 3111 N. Western Avenue, Chicago.

“I’m so pleased to bring this story to Chicago,” said Dr. Lisa Biggs, a Michigan State University professor who, with her students, wrote the play. The play is supported by grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the University of Michigan’s Humanities Without Walls program.

She conceived the play, Biggs explained, because “I was struck by the silence around women and girls involvement. In ’67, they were pictured right alongside the men and boys on the streets. They put their bodies on the line, but from many written accounts you would never know it. I hope AFTER/LIFE can better represent the past and create opportunities for audience members to dream of a more fair, just and equitable future.”

In July 1967, Detroit residents in largely African-American neighborhoods squared off against the city’s largely white police department in a five-day confrontation that resulted in the deaths of 43 people (33 African-American and 10 white). The clash, which saw thousands of buildings burned, followed a police raid on an after-hours nightclub; residents said the rebellion was in response to an overzealous and racist police force.

AFTER/LIFE is part of a dual performance at Links Hall, paired with “The Living Lakes.” Set in 1915- 1935, “The Living Lakes” tells the work and cultural history of Latino and African American communities in Chicago and Detroit.

Dr. Biggs, an actress, playwright and performance scholar, serves as an assistant professor in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities at MSU.

Guest vocalists to include Dee Alexander,

Frieda Lee, Paul Marinaro and more

The Chicago Jazz Orchestra (including Jerry DiMuzio and other CJO saxophonists, top) will perform with Chicago’s top vocalists every Monday in June and July at Chicago’s iconic Green Mill as part of the new CJO Mondays at the Mill cocktail hour concert series.

CHICAGO, IL – Join the Chicago Jazz Orchestra every Monday in June and July at the Green Mill, Chicago’s most iconic jazz club, for an unforgettable summer of live jazz featuring Chicago’s hottest vocalists.

The CJO’s new cocktail hour jazz series launches next Monday, June 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with one of the top vocalists in Chicago, guest vocalist Dee Alexander. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door. The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge is at 4802 N. Broadway Ave., in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.

Dee Alexander

Make the Green Mill your new Monday night after work hot spot this summer, because CJO Mondays at the Mill will continue every Monday in June and July with a different guest vocalist each night:

Frieda Lee

Monday, June 11 – Frieda Lee

“One of Chicago’s most beloved jazz singers” – Chicago Tribune

Monday, June 18 – Dee Alexander

“One of the year’s 10 best” – The New York Times

Alyssa Allgood

Monday, June 25– Alyssa Allgood

“A young singer of unusual accomplishment and extraordinary potential”

– Chicago Tribune

Sophie Grimm

Monday, July 2 – Sophie Grimm

“An entertainer of extraordinary gifts”– Cabaret Scenes Magazine

Monday, July 9 – Dee Alexander

“Jazz Entertainer of the Year” – Chicago Music Awards

Sarah Marie Young

Monday, July 16 – Sarah Marie Young

Winner, 2011 Montreux Voice Competition judged by Quincy Jones

Monday, July 23 – Dee Alexander

“Best singer” – Chicago Magazine

Paul Marinaro

Monday, July 30 – Paul Marinaro

“Vocalist, narrator, storyteller, historian

and the most dapper and elegant of tour guides”

– Chicago Jazz Magazine

“Neither Marinaro nor the CJO has ever sounded better” is how the Chicago Tribune’s Howard Reich described the CJO’s most recent concert with Paul Marinaro, A CJO Salute to “Sinatra at the Sands,” May 12 at Chicago’s Studebaker Theatre.

See and hear why such high praise has been rolling in of late for Chicago’s oldest professional jazz orchestra in continuous operation, as they play Monday nights this summer in the intimate confines of Chicago’s favorite jazz club, the Green Mill.

Click here or the image above for this photo of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

Founded in 1978, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (chicagojazzorchestra.org) is the city’s oldest professional jazz orchestra in continuous operation and one of the oldest jazz repertory orchestras in the country. The CJO strives to develop and promote an appreciation for and understanding of music for the American jazz orchestra as it was originally conceived, performed and recorded by jazz master composers and soloists.

Under the direction of Founder and Artistic Director Jeff Lindberg, Chicago’s premiere jazz ensemble features some of Chicago’s top jazz musicians, including Scott Burns, Jerry DiMuzio, Bill Overton, Eric Schneider and John Wojciechowski on saxophone; Art Davis, Victor Garcia and Doug Scharf on trumpet; Steve Duncan, Tom Garling, Luke Malewicz and Michael Young on trombone; Dan Trudell on piano; Dennis Carroll on bass; George Fludas on drums; and Michael Pettersen on guitar.

The Orchestra has performed with such artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, Louis Bellson, Herbie Hancock, Jon Faddis, Kurt Elling, Jack McDuff, Kenny Burrell, Roy Hargrove, Marquis Hill, Walter White, Joshua Redman, and many more. The CJO performs at a wide variety of top venues across the Chicago area, from the Green Mill, to City Winery, to Andy’s Jazz Club, to the Spertus Institute, to the Studebaker Theatre. The CJO served as the resident orchestra for the Kennedy Center Honors Supper Dance for over 25 years performed before a sold-out audience at the 2006 Spoleto Festival, and has toured Europe twice, including performances in Italy, Spain, Denmark and Sweden.

The Chicago Jazz Orchestra is supported by The Stare Fund, The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Joseph B. Glossberg Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, and The Saints, with media sponsorship from WDCB 90.9 FM, DownBeat Magazine and Chicago Jazz Magazine.

One of the largest and most successful community-based events for prostate cancer education and awareness

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — PHEN (Prostate Health Education Network) presented the Daddy’s Boys stage play on May 12th at the Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale, MD before an audience of more than 1,000. With an educational workshop and prostate cancer screening held prior to the play, this was a highly successful community based prostate cancer education and awareness event.”

This was a Broadway caliber play, my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing production with a great message. PHEN and Garrett Davis productions have shifted the paradigm enabling them to meet the needs of more people through creative ministry,” says Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington, Reid Temples Senior Pastor.

Rev. Joseph Deck, III, Senior Minister to Men at Reid Temple who led the efforts at Reid to host the play states, “As Minister to Men, I witnessed after the workshop and play, men and caregivers moving from victimization and fear to empowerment and courage! Our Partnership with PHEN has been life giving to Reid Temple.”

Daddy’s Boys is the latest health-oriented presentation by playwright Garrett Davis, who uses humor and music-laden dramas to bring awareness to minority health issues. The PHEN/Davis collaboration builds on Davis’ established portfolio of stage productions that highlight diabetes and Alzheimers disease among other issues.

PHEN is touring Daddy’s Boys nationally with the support of partners including Astellas, Amgen, Accuray, Bayer, Pfizer Oncology, Genomic Health, Myriad and Janssen Oncology. PHEN works with its network of church partners to host and promote the play within their communities. The performances are free of charge to the public.

“The Daddy’s Boys play enables us to use entertainment to attract thousands more people to educate about prostate cancer and this will impact their actions and help save more lives,” according to Thomas Farrington, Founder and President of the Prostate Health Education Network and an 18-year prostate cancer survivor.

“The play was outstanding and very informative. Often family members feel left out and hurt when they discover that a loved one has kept life changing information from them. I feel the members of the cast did an excellent job of showing how families can and should come together to address medical concerns,” says Abraham Parks who attended Daddy’s Boys at Reid Temple.

PHEN will next present Daddy’s Boys at The Saint Pauls Baptist Church in Richmond, VA on June 9th where the Rev. Dr. Lance Watson is the Senior Pastor. For more information about the play and for free tickets visit www.daddysboys.net

About PHEN
The Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN) is the leading prostate cancer patient education and advocacy organization addressing the needs of African American families. Based in Quincy MA, PHEN is a 501c(3) organization founded in 2003. Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer among all men. Black men are diagnosed at a rate 60% higher with a death rate 130% higher than men of all other racial and ethnic groups. PHEN provides education and awareness about the disease towards eliminating this disparity. For more details, visit www.prostatehealthed.org

About Reid Temple AME Church
Reid Temple AME Church, led by Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington, is one church in three locations in DC/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) with a growing community of faith of over 15, 000 members. Reid Temple Mens Ministry is a dynamic and innovative ministry of 8,000 men strong who demonstrate an unshakable faith in God.

Churches and other organizations that may be interested in hosting Daddy’s Boys should email PHEN at rapcancer@prostatehealthed.org

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — From the comic book and novel Eyes of Esca comes the highly anticipated screenplay adaption. The story range carries a potential of Star Wars and is comparable to Avengers and Shape of Water with a young adult edge.

The ethereal, bioluminescent, world of Nautilus lies beneath the ocean as well as in space. In the Sci-fi Thriller/ Drama, actress Cymphonique Miller stars as “Jade” – the brain-child of two high profile marine biologists.

She mourns their death after their ship mysteriously wrecks on an expedition and is taken under the wing of a billionaire professor who leads her on a journey of discovery and unimaginable power that will change Jade and the world she thought she knew, forever.

Eyes of Esca brings the super hero genre to the YA (Young Adult) audience with an original scientific theory based on the shape-shifting octopus. This is the first in a trilogy of films that will not only see Jades coming of age, but also a war between aliens and humans.

This is an original screenplay written by Ramello Barnes and Michael Ballard.

In the past year, Auddly has entered partnerships with some of the world’s most powerful music companies and organizations, including Universal Music Publishing Group, ASCAP, PRS and STIM. Its most recent and very prestigious partnership is with Elton John, who will be an official ambassador for the company.
“It’s time to realise that we need to manage our metadata more efficiently to overcome the challenges preventing creators from getting paid correctly, and I support Auddly in its efforts towards a more sustainable music industry.” – EltonJohn
“It’s an honour to have Elton John on board as an Auddly ambassador. Thanks to his outstanding experience as a songwriter and artist he is very aware of the metadata issues and his support is valuable for us.” – NiclasMolinder

More news regarding Auddly’s latest progress and plans ahead will be revealed soon.

Hyde Park School of Dance (HPSD) celebrates its home base—Hyde Park—and its hometown—Chicago—with a world premiere to kick off its 25th anniversary season: Amira: A Chicago Cinderella Story. Performances are June 15–17, 2018 at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street, Chicago.

Staged by HPSD Founding Artistic Director August Tye, ballet mistress and choreographer at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Amira is the story of a young girl forced to leave her native country without her mother, arriving in Chicago and struggling to make a home in Hyde Park. The story follows the events of the traditional Cinderella story, leading to a Masked Ball in Hyde Park and a young man who becomes smitten with Amira. When she runs away at midnight, he and his friends search various Chicago neighborhoods trying to find her—Little India, downtown, Pilsen, Chinatown, Bronzeville, and Hyde Park—until they meet at a place that is special to both of them.

“Amira: A Chicago Cinderella Story celebrates Chicago’s South Side and its diverse neighborhoods, as well as the perseverance of immigrants to make a home in a new place,” commented Tye. “We also hope to provide positive images of young girls as strong, smart, and capable.”

The cast includes more than 130 dancers age seven to adult. Tye is directing the production and collaborating with seven HPSD faculty members to create the choreography. Tye is also working closely with Costume Designer Jacquelyn Sanders on this modern Cinderella story and professional photographer Damien Thompson to create projection scenery featuring the neighborhoods of Chicago.

University of Chicago Lab School senior Olivia Issa, who is performing the title role in two of the four performances, is also involved in a special feature of the costumes. “Olivia is thrilled to combine her love of dance and her curiosity and drive for computer coding to help create Amira’s magical gown, which will light up, and the glowing fireflies for her transition into her ball costume,” said Tye.

Hyde Park School of Dance – History
Tye founded Hyde Park School of Dance in 1993, after the School of Chicago Ballet, where she had been teaching, closed its doors. Starting with two teachers, an accompanist, and 30 students in one studio, HPSD has grown to a staff of 38 part-time faculty, accompanists, and administrators; more than 500 students; and 100+ hours of weekly instruction in four studios at three neighborhood locations. During the past 25 years, Hyde Park School of Dance has grown and prospered, while remaining true to its commitment to Training, Performance, and Community.August Tye
Before coming to Chicago in 1991 to teach at the School of Chicago Ballet, under the direction of prima ballerina Maria Tallchief, Tye performed with the Kalamazoo Ballet Company. She is a two-time recipient of the Monticello Choreographers Award and has choreographed for companies throughout the country. She has performed with Joel Hall Dancers, Salt Creek Ballet, and Second City Ballet. Tye started at Lyric Opera as a dancer in Un ballo in maschera during the 1992–93 season. Since then, she has worked on more than 38 productions as dancer, choreographer, or ballet mistress. Her credits include remounting the choreography of Lyric’s Iphigénie en Tauride at San Francisco Opera and the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden and remounting Lyric’s Salome at the Saito Kinen Festival in Matsumoto, Japan. She is thrilled to make her Dallas Opera debut in April 2018 as the original choreographer for Bob Falls’ Lyric production of Don Giovanni. Tye met her husband, opera singer Wilbur Pauley, when they appeared together in Lyric’s 1994 production of Candide. They were married in 1998 and have three children—all of whom will dance in Amira: A Chicago Cinderella Story.

Amira: A Chicago Cinderella Story takes place Friday, June 15 at 7 p.m.;
Saturday, June 16 at 1 and 6 p.m.; and Sunday, June 17 at 2 p.m.
at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street in Chicago.
Tickets, which go on sale May 8, are $25 for adult general admission seating,
$20 for seniors (ages 65+), $15 for children ages six through 18 and
students of all ages with ID, and free (ticket required) for children five and younger.Tickets and information are available at773-493-8498 or hydeparkdance.org/tickets.

Hyde Park School of Dance
Founded in 1993 as The Hyde Park School of Ballet, Hyde Park School of Dance provides opportunities for students of all ages and abilities to study, perform and create classical and contemporary dance at the highest levels of discipline and artistry. Through high quality training and performance, HPSD’s goal is to cultivate a love of dance and strength of body, mind and character that will benefit students throughout their lives. Led by Founding Artistic Director August Tye, the faculty is committed to helping children experience the empowering rewards of self-discipline, hard work and collaboration in a supportive and nurturing environment that values healthy bodies.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – One of the music industry’s premier entertainers is headed to the Illinois State Fair this summer. Grammy award winning recording artist, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist Ludacris will perform on the Grandstand stage on Saturday, August 18.

Countless hits including “Stand Up,” “Get Back,” and “Money Maker,” have solidified Ludacris as one of music’s best entertainers with more than 20 million albums sold domestically. In fact, in 2010, Ludacris was named one of the most effective influencers on American culture.

In addition to his dynamic stage performances, Ludacris is a well-known actor. Ludacris has a recurring role in The Fast & The Furious film franchise, and has also appear in the movies Crash, Hustle & Flow, and No Strings Attached. Ludacris is also no stranger to the small screen with appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, hosting duties on the Billboard Music Awards, and former judge on the reality television show, Rising Star.

Joining Ludacris at the Illinois State Fair will be Flo Rida. The Florida native rose to fame at the age of 18 as the hype man for Fresh Kid Ice from 2 Live Crew. Flo Rida comes from a long line of family musicians, including his father and sisters, with a variety of gospel and R&B influences. His 2008 breakout single, “Low,” was number one on the U.S. charts for ten weeks and broke digital download sales at the time of its release. Other Flo Rida hits include, “Club Can’t Handle Me,” “Right Round,” and “Wild Ones.”

Tickets to see Ludacris and Flo Rida at the Illinois State Fair will go on sale on Saturday, May 5th via Ticketmaster.com, and sales for that concert will begin at the Emmerson Building on Monday, May 7th. Tickets for six other concerts are on sale now. Ticket prices are as follows:

The Illinois State Fair will once again offer Stage Side Parties for each of the Grandstand concerts. An additional $30 ticket will provide fairgoers access to an exclusive pre-show party that includes a food provided by the Illinois Pork Producers Association, entertainment, giveaways and early entry into the concert. New this year, the fair will provide each stage side ticket holder with a parking pass for that night’s concert if the tickets are purchased prior to July 31st. The Stage Side Party is only available to those who have purchased a concert ticket to attend that night’s concert – BOTH concert & party ticket will be required to enter the party tent. These tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster once tickets go on-sale.

Mark your calendars for the 2018 Illinois State Fair, August 9th – 19th, in Springfield, IL.

Stay up to date with all the latest news and announcements from the Illinois State Fair by connecting with us via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) — Thirty years after its premiere on MTV, “YO! MTV Raps” legacy continues to have a lasting influence on hip-hop and pop culture. To celebrate this milestone anniversary, MTV will reinvent the franchise for a new generation as a both a linear and digital series across its platforms. To kick things off, show alumni, artists and fans will gather for the “YO! MTV Raps: 30th Anniversary Experience” on Friday, June 1st at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, which will be live streamed by MTV.

After its debut on August 6th, 1988, “YO! MTV Raps” became the premiere source for all things hip-hop. The advent of the series was crucial to the rise of hip-hop, and created a worldwide appreciation of the genre, which has since become one of the most influential in mainstream music.

Tickets to the show go on sale on Friday, April 20 at 10AM ET and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com and barclayscenter.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office beginning at 12PM ET on Saturday, April 21.

The “YO! MTV Raps: 30th Anniversary Experience” is the brainchild of Charlie Stettler, who, with his partner Lynda West, managed and developed the careers of the Fat Boys, Ed Lover & Doctor Dré, Leslie “Big Lez” Segar and DJ Skribble, among others. Stettler, along with “YO! MTV Raps: 30th Anniversary Experience” co-producers Blue Williams, Matthew Kemp, Sal Abbatiello and DJ Skribble, helped usher in the hip-hop mainstream revolution. The live stream is Executive Produced by Eric Conte, of Content.23 Media.

About Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment:
Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) develops and operates state-of-the-art venues and manages premier sports franchises, delivering dynamic content and experiences for audiences. BSE oversees programming, marketing, sales, and operations for Barclays Center; NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum; LIU Brooklyn Paramount Theatre; and Webster Hall. BSE manages and controls the Brooklyn Nets and its NBA G League team, the Long Island Nets, as well as the business operations of the NHL’s New York Islanders. Barclays Center, which opened on September 28, 2012, offers 17,732 seats for basketball, 15,795 for hockey, and up to 19,000 seats for concerts, and has 101 luxury suites, four bars/lounges, four clubs, and Parm Italian Restaurant & 40/40 CLUB by Tanduay Rum. NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, reopened on April 5, 2017 after undergoing an extensive renovation. The Coliseum offers 14,500 seats for basketball, MMA and boxing, 13,900 for hockey, up to 15,000 for concerts, and 4,500 seats for its theater configuration. With a focus on emerging businesses, BSE identifies and creates alliances, strategic partnerships and other business opportunities to ensure the success of its assets.

About MTV:
MTV is a global youth culture brand inspired by music. For more information, check out mtvpress.com. MTV is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA)

Sit back and enjoy this live recreation of the famous 1966 “Sinatra at the Sands” performance, long considered to be the definitive live album of Sinatra’s career, performed in order by acclaimed Chicago jazz vocalist Paul Marinaro and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of artistic director Jeff Lindberg.

The Studebaker Theater is located at 410 S. Michigan Avenue on the first floor of Chicago’s Fine Arts Building. Single tickets are $35 (balcony) and $45 (floor). For tickets and information, visit chicagojazzorchestra.org.

“Sinatra at the Sands” is the unforgettable live album by Frank Sinatra accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra. It was conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones, and recorded live in the Copa Room of the former Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1966. It was Sinatra’s first live album to be commercially released, and contains many definitive renditions of the classic songs most commonly associated with Sinatra’s “Rat Pack” era. Signature tracks include “Come Fly with Me,” “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “One for My Baby,” “Luck be a Lady” and “My Kind of Town.” The album is certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Don’t miss this chance to travel back in time, one-night-only, to revisit a true classic. Channeling Sinatra on the Studebaker stage is CJO guest vocalist Paul Marinaro, hailed by the Chicago Tribune as having “one of the most beautiful vocal instruments in the business today.”

Backing Marinaro for this one night only, live recreation of “Sinatra at the Sands” is the CJO ensemble boasting the top jazz musicians in all of Chicago: Scott Burns, Jerry DiMuzio, Bill Overton, Eric Schneider and John Wojciechowski on saxophone; Art Davis, Victor Garcia and Doug Scharf on trumpet; Steve Duncan, Tom Garling, Luke Malewicz and Michael Young on trombone; Dan Trudell on piano; Dennis Carroll on bass; George Fludas on drums; and Michael Pettersen on guitar.

Founded in 1978, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra is the city’s oldest professional jazz orchestra in continuous operation and one of the oldest jazz repertory orchestras in the country. As recently as 2015, Chicago Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich cited the CJO as “one of the best big bands in the country.”

Paul Marinaro has become one of the most in-demand and respected male vocalists, taking “his place among the top five male jazz singers active today” (Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene). Earlier this month the Tribune’s Howard Reich also singled out a 2013 Jazz Showcase performance by Marinaro as one of the 40 most unforgettable shows he has covered in 40 years.

He frequently plays sold-out engagements in Chicago’s world-famous venues, including the Joe and Wayne Segal’s Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, Andy’s Jazz Club, and at his highly acclaimed debut appearance at The Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park. His have been named as the “Best Performances of the Year” in the Chicago Tribune in both 2013 and 2014, and his performances sold out on both his west and east coast debuts.

In 2013, Marinaro celebrated his widely acclaimed debut album Without a Song, a carefully crafted concept album stemming from and inspired by his father’s unfulfilled dream to have been a professional singer. Without a Song has gone on to receive widespread acclaim and national airplay, and was named among the “Best of 2013” in the Chicago Tribune. His first live album, One Night in Chicago, was released in 2015.

Swing to the opening number of “Sinatra at the Sands” – “Come Fly with Me”

ABOUT THE CHICAGO JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Click here or the image above for this photo of the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.

The Chicago Jazz Orchestra (chicagojazzorchestra.org) strives to develop and promote an appreciation for and understanding of music for the American jazz orchestra as it was originally conceived, performed and recorded by jazz master composers and soloists.

When Jeff Lindberg and the late Steve Jensen first came up with their big band concept in 1978 (founded as the Jazz Members Big Band), they could not have predicted the remarkable metamorphosis that has turned a group of first-call musicians into what is now known as the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece premiere jazz ensemble that has garnered both national and international recognition.

Click here or the image above for this photo of CJO Conductor and Artistic Director Jeff Lindberg.

Conductor and Artistic Director Jeff Lindberg is one of the foremost transcribers in jazz. As a result, the orchestra’s repertoire draws upon his vast library including the works of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter, Oliver Nelson, Ray Charles. Because the CJO has its own transcriptions of the original recordings, much of the music in its concerts cannot be heard anywhere else. The CJO also performs compositions and arrangements by CJO members, including Associate Artistic Director Charles Harrison.

The CJO served as the resident orchestra for the Kennedy Center Honors Supper Dance for more than 25 years. In 2006, the Orchestra performed before a sold-out audience at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina. The CJO has toured Europe twice, including performances in Italy, Spain, Denmark and Sweden. The Orchestra has performed with such artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Nancy Wilson, Louis Bellson, Herbie Hancock, Jon Faddis, Kurt Elling, Jack McDuff, Kenny Burrell, Roy Hargrove, Marquis Hill, Walter White, Joshua Redman and many more.

The orchestra performs at a wide variety of top venues across the Chicago area, from The Green Mill, to City Winery, to the Spertus Institute. Merit School of Music is the orchestra’s educational partner, including day-long clinics that culminate with students performing alongside members of the CJO, master classes led by renowned guest artists and open rehearsals. The CJO also provides complimentary concert tickets to underserved public school students and their families.

The CJO’s recordings include Clark Terry and Jeff Lindberg’s Chicago Jazz Orchestra: George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (Americana Music, 2004), nominated “Jazz Album of The Year” by the Jazz Journalist’s Association, and a rare “Five Star” rating by DownBeat magazine, which also named it one of the top recordings of the previous decade. It also made the annual “top CD’s” lists of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz Times and Jazz Education Journal. To celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2013, the CJO released Burstin’ Out with vocalist Cyrille Aimée performing classic and original jazz arrangements. The CJO’s newest release is the 2017 compilation Live from Space, with live recordings from the summer of 2016.

CJO’s 2017-18 season finale, also at the Studebaker, is A CJO Salute to “Sinatra at the Sands” featuring Paul Marinaro, Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Sit back and enjoy this live recreation of the famous 1966 “Sinatra at the Sands” performance, long considered to be the definitive live album of his career. The Chicago Tribune hailed CJO guest vocalist Paul Marinaro as having “one of the most beautiful vocal instruments in the business today.” Don’t miss this chance to travel back in time, one-night-only, to revisit a true classic.

The Chicago Jazz Orchestra’s 2017-18 season is supported by The Stare Fund, The MacArthur Funds for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Joseph B. Glossberg Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, and The Saints of Chicago, with media sponsorship from WDCB 90.9 FM, DownBeat Magazine and Chicago Jazz Magazine.

It’s (slowly) getting warmer out, and there are more cultural events and activities for the whole family to enjoy! From book talks and signings, to film screenings, to exhibits, music, and more, there’s something for everyone on our website! Below are just a few of the highlights:

This Thursday, April 19 from 7 – 9:30 pm, the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center hosts La Máquina Insular, highlighting the Puerto Rican street corner musical tradition of Plena. This musical event features an all-ages discussion followed by a performance by the artist. This event is part of Borinken Me Llama a series of collaborative events that explores the Puerto Rican experience.Click here for a full list of events! Free; donation suggested.

On Saturday, April 28 from 5 – 7 pm, the Swedish American Museum invites families to Endangered Animals! What’s a Kid to do?, a theatrical presentation on threatened animal habitats and positive ways children can help save them. This educational program features audience participation and is sure to be fun for all ages. Free.

Book Talk: Appointment with Yesterday
Sunday, April 22 from 2 – 4 pmNational Hellenic Museum
333 S. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60661Join the National Hellenic Museum for a discussion of the book Appointment With Yesterday, a story set on an island in the eastern Aegean.$15; $10 for NHM members» Learn more

Stammtisch – Karaoke
Friday, April 20 at 7:30 pmDANK Haus German American Cultural Center
4740 N. Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625Join the DANK Haus German American Cultural Center for a fun night of karaoke and more.Free admission» Learn more

Audio Overdose
Thursday, April 26 from 6:30 – 9:30 pmAmerican Indian Center of Chicago
3401 W. Ainslie St.
Chicago, IL 60625Join the American Indian Center of Chicago for Audio Overdose, an evening of music, discussion, and more. Bring three songs to share and a story of why you selected those particular songs.» Learn more

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Welcome to CopyLine Magazine! The first issue of CopyLine Magazine was published in November, 1990, by Editor & Publisher Juanita Bratcher. CopyLine’s main focus is on the political arena – to inform our readers and analyze many of the pressing issues of the day - controversial or otherwise. Our objectives are clear – to keep you abreast of political happenings and maneuvering in the political arena, by reporting and providing provocative commentaries on various issues. For more about CopyLine Magazine, CopyLine Blog, and CopyLine Television/Video, please visit juanitabratcher.com, copylinemagazine.com, and oneononetelevision.com. Bratcher has been a News/Reporter, Author, Publisher, and Journalist for 33 years. She is the author of six books, including “Harold: The Making of a Big City Mayor” (Harold Washington), Chicago’s first African-American mayor; and “Beyond the Boardroom: Empowering a New Generation of Leaders,” about John Herman Stroger, Jr., the first African-American elected President of the Cook County Board. Bratcher is also a Poet/Songwriter, with 17 records – produced by HillTop Records of Hollywood, California. Juanita Bratcher Publisher